Summer is coming to a close and with it comes a most welcomed and much needed cooler temperature outside. The days of swimming pools and summer barbeques will soon come to an end and be replaced with football games and other fall activities. With fall fast approaching, winter will be here before you know it, and as a home owner there are a few housekeeping items you need to keep in mind that are heavily affected by cold weather. Extreme cold temperatures bring with them the potential of frozen pipes. The water inside pipes can freeze when outdoor temperatures drop below freezing. As freezing water expands, it causes the pressure inside the pipes to increase, possibly leading to bursting pipes.
How to Make Sure your Pipes Don’t Freeze
Preventing pipes from freezing in some cases is near impossible, but there are some steps you can take to help prevent your pipes from freezing this coming winter. If you have a swimming pool, it is a good idea to drain it during the winter. Also drain your sprinkler supply lines as well. Avoid adding antifreeze to these lines, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer. Antifreeze is extremely dangerous and harmful to humans and pets if direct contact is made. The antifreeze can also cause permanent damage to your landscape and surrounding vegetation.
Hoses, Valves & Pipe Care
If you have hoses connected to your home that are sitting outside of your home; remove, drain and store the hoses in a storage shed or garage. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs; open the outdoor hose bibs to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to burst. It is important to perform a thorough inspection of the exterior of your home where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. Search your basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be properly insulated.
Professional Residential Plumbers & Commercial Plumbing Contractors in Spring, The Woodlands, Magnolia, Montgomery & Conroe TX
During the winter try your best to keep your garage door closed as much as possible, especially if there are water supply lines in your garage. When the weather gets very cold outside, allow cold water to drip from the faucet, running water through the pipes helps avoid freezing pipes even with just a trickle. If you come across a frozen pipe this winter, look no further than Orsack Plumbing Company to assist you in repairing your pipes and making sure they last you throughout the winter and longer. Contact Orsack Plumbing Company to provide you with excellent customer service, quality plumbing work and complete satisfaction.
